Word of the Week #291:
What would I be doing if I didn’t have to worry about the paycheque attached to it?
This question came up during a discussion about socialism and capitalism and human nature.
Would you do what you do right now if you didn’t have bills and loans and this and that to take care of? Food, rent, utilities, healthcare, childcare, the list goes on and on…
Well, most people did come to realise that they wouldn’t want to keep doing what they have to, in this capitalist society that forces them to waste their entire lives simply trying to “earn a living”.
Living should not have to be “earned”. Living is not a privilege. Luxury is a privilege. But the basic necessities required to sustain life should not be a privilege.
However, that is not what we are discussing tonight. I mean, does it really need to be discussed?
No, tonight, we will discuss the fact that when I was asked if would I be doing what I do if I didn’t have to worry about the paycheque attached to it, may response was “yes”.
I like editing.
I like being able to help a relatively inexperienced writer turn their story into a book.
Would I want to keep doing it without getting paid for it? Absolutely.
However, I might want to change who I would do it for or how I would want to do it.
You see, copyediting is not as involved a process as I would like. We only get to improve an existing manuscript to make it ready for market. That is not fun enough for me.
If I could work on fewer projects each month and spend more time and effort on each one, and if I didn’t have to worry about whether my clients could afford my time and effort, I would have been so much happier.
I wonder if I can find a way to make that happen.
I would if… I should start teaching.
Nah… Not yet…
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